Holiday Style :: ModCloth Edition

Christmas may be over, but we still have New Year's Eve to dress up pretty for! And since today is New Year's Eve Eve, it's time to start thinking, if you haven't already, about what you'll wear! If you need some outfit inspiration, here is an ensemble I put together using the Committee Celebration Dress from ModCloth! All of the pieces are from ModCloth. If y'all haven't checked out ModCloth yet, you're missing out. They have such fun clothing & accessories.  These bow wedges have my name written all over them. Their necklace designs are so unique and fun!

Modcloth Holiday by slryan3

Today is my boy's birthday, so we're off to celebrate with cupcakes & football!! Go Texas!

Social Monograms

Hey y'all!
About a week or so ago I was browsing Groupon & LivingSocial like I doooo to keep up with the hot dealios and one immediately caught my eye -- 50% off a monogrammed clutch!
I've been seeing these "luxe clutches" all over from Marley Lilly and other places, but never actually placed an order.  My roommate got one last year as a gift & I thought it was just too adorable and I knew if I ever found a good deal I should jump on it!
Well, jump on it I did, and just a few days later this beauty was in the mailbox:

for reference I got the brown clutch with ivory thread

I'm so glad I discovered Social Monograms! They have the sweetest items & I am so happy with my clutch! Y'all be sure to check them out on Facebook - they have WEEKLY Facebook sales!!

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| How do you like my new & improved look? | I decided to get a fresh change on the blog to inspire me to blog more. So far it's working ;)     Today I'm off to run 8 miles & then relax a bit! This week was CRAY! Have a great weekend!

Friday's Fancies :: HELLO SUMMER!

Happy Friday & Happy SUMMER! & Happy Birthday, Dad! & Happy National Wear Your Lilly Day!
There are lots of reasons to celebrate today, which is good because today we leave the beach -- WOMP WOMP. This past week has flown by and I seriously feel like I just got here.  I ain't tan enough to go back home yet!! (is it just me or does tanning feel so much more legit at the beach? I feel so lame in my backyard...)   I'm excited to be back in the Friday's Fancies groove & share my summer faves :)

|one| I absolutely love my monogrammed hat from Crystal Faye! Mine is navy blue with white thread. I wore it this past week to go to Bodie Island Lighthouse! Crystal is such a sweet girl to work with, too! Team #shopcrystalfaye all the way! |two| My vineyard vines hat is my all time fave! I don't know what it is about it. I think I've just worn it in and it is so comfy! I have the exact style shown - color is: slate. |three| Where would I be without colorful chino shorts? 4" or 5" are my go-to length because they're perfect for me to wear to work! I love J. Crew and Old Navy. I just got a hot pink pair from J. Crew on sale -- only $15! Holla! |four| I am trying to get better about wearing sunglasses. My eye doctor somewhat scolded me for not ;) Although I don't have these Ray Bans, I would love a pair! |five| Is there a time of year more American than summertime? I think not. I am absolutely stoked for the 4th of July which is my second favorite holiday! This bow must be in my hair. Another cute one from Devon Alana! |six| No better way to kick off summer and make your tan pop than with a fresh mani! |seven| Just like life in general, summer is always better in Lilly. I am loving the Dock Hopper print! |eight| Of course, my Jacks are my go-to summer shoe! My platinum pair literally go with everything. I am going to wear them down til they're nothing! |nine| Summer purse essentials? Phone, wallet, KOOZIE! I was the koozie queen at the beach! Lilly koozie found here :) Also love these!! |ten| Last but not least, I spend many days during the summer in my classic norts. No matter how cute I want my outfit to be, you can never go wrong with norts & a comfy t-shirt! I swear by it!

Celebrate summer today & join in on the FF fun here at {long distance loving}!
Onward to Virginia! Back to the real world! :/ Have a great start to your weekend!

Currently LOVING: Dogeared Jewelry

I've been familiar with Dogeared jewelry for a while, but I was just browsing their site and realized I am in LOVE with a couple of their pieces!
State of Mind: Virginia

Okay, obviously this is my favorite! I love everything Virginia related. I can see wearing this with lots of outfits! I think their state of mind necklaces are so cute, simple & a great way to represent your state!
Infinite Love

Absolutely love this one as well! So simple and, again, could be worn daily! "with love, there is no limits"
Faith: Sideways Cross

At first I thought the sideways cross necklace was a little strange but it has really grown on me! I love this one - small and simple.
Make a Wish: Birthday Bow

How precious is this little ribbon bow for a birthday girl? I don't even think it calls for a birthday! Any occasion - or just for fun! I love this little feminine detail.

Do you have any Dogeared jewelry? How do you like it?

eShakti Spring Review!

A few weeks ago, eShakti contacted me about reviewing an item from their Spring 2013 line! I absolutely love eShakti and the very special way they are unique from other online retailers :: they offer sizes 0-36W and completely customized sizing/style options! You can choose to remove or include embroidery, pockets and other embellishments as well as choosing sleeve style. They carry dresses, skirts, tops, cardigans and more. They also just introduced a new, exclusive Bridesmaids line! When I went to order my dress, I simply took my measurements, with a little help from Momma, and then put them in the Custom sizing section of the order. I also had the option to choose the neckline and dress length! I love this option because everyone is different - some people like their dresses above the knee and some like them below! I chose above the knee for mine.   The sizing of my dress fit very well.  The only thing "off" is the waist. It doesn't fit "tight" on me but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Better to be a little loose than too tight! Here is the dress I chose:

Sorry for the selfies...I'll get better pictures when I can wear this to an event! Sidenote: these pictures also reveal my new haircut! I love the detail of this dress & the cutout back of it.   I think it will look cute with these gold wedges I just bought at Target!

Have you bought anything at eShakti? If not, head on over! When you register you get a $25 coupon! WOO! *I received this dress free of charge for review purposes but the opinions are 100% my own*

Ringing in the New Year with Sequins

I feel like the only time I can pull off sequins...lots of sequins...is at New Years! This year I'll be ringing in 2013 with some friends here in Blacksburg -- so not exciting, but I'm determined to make it FUN!
Haven't picked an outfit yet, but here are some sequins-y pieces I think would be a sure way to have some fun!

Forever 21

LuLu's

Target

J. Crew

Francesca's

What will you be wearing this New Year's Eve? Only 11 more days!

Happy Thursday!

Nude Nails

Y'all probably know by now that I'm a nail polish fanatic -- like a lot of you, I'm sure!

I'm always picking up new polishes, but I'll be honest, I usually stick to essie & O.P.I. I know they're more expensive (still not the most expensive) but I find they have the best coverage/last the longest when applied right.

No matter what the season, I think a good nude nail can be gorgeous. In my opinion, it looks great with any spring or summer outfit that may be filled with color, but can also be a refreshing change from the darker tones of fall and winter.

 

When I say "nude", I personally mean a nude pink. I'm very much a PINK girl when it comes to nail polishes! I have so many and I typically choose nudes with a pink tone rather than a beige tone.

Here are my three favorites:

{from my instagram, so you may be familiar!}

essie: miss matched

O.P.I.: Bubble Bath

 my current polish...I love it!

 

essie: petal pink

What are your favorite polishes when you don't want to stand out but still want a hint of color?

Off to study for my "abby normal" psych test tomorrow...yippee!

Fall Trends!

The weather in Blacksburg is definitely starting to be more fall-ish. Even though I'm a summer girl, I'm a teeny bit ready to start wearing cardigans and scarves.
Here are some of my fall favorites I'm excited to wear!
1. Chambray

This is a great piece that can be worn at any time of year!
2. Dresses w/ tights

This outfit is not only cute, but looks so comfortable!
3. Plaid//flannel

Nothing says fall more to me than plaid!
4. Infinity scarves

Comfy, casual, easy to throw-on-and-go!
5. Big sweaters

I hate being cold, so when the temperatures drop, there is nothing I want more than to be swallowed up in a big sweater!
What are your fall favorites this season?
Happy Monday!

Current Shabby Apple Favorites & Coupon Code!

Have you checked Shabby Apple recently?   They have some ADORABLE pieces right now that I am dying for. My fall closet is begging for their classic, vintage pieces that will never grow old.   Shabby Apple not only has timeless outfits, jewelry pieces and accessories, but they present them in such a neat way. I love browsing their photos solely for their photographic beauty! They do their photo shoots in an environment that complements the outfit piece.   Here are my current Shabby Apple favorites!

Shabby Apple Favorites by slryan3 featuring a tee dress

I think the Serenade dress is the perfect maxi! It looks so comfortable and can be paired with a statement necklace.
The A+ dress is a new style I'm loving -- the shirtdress. Fun to dress up or down.
The Black Oak dress is the perfect LBD. I love that they paired it with brown riding boots!
Seven Seas in Seersucker makes me want to go back to summer...when you add in the ruffles - I'm sold!

Did you notice the little treat in the corner? With the code favorite10 you can get 10% off!
The code expires on 9/14, so act quick! :)

Top 5 Tuesday: Most Worn Items In My Closet

Time again for one of my favorite link ups with one of my favorite blog friends!

  Today's Topic: Most Worn Items in Your Closet

Top 5 Tuesday: Closet by slryan3

1. Lilly Pulitzer Avery Skirt :: This was either my first or second Lilly piece! I love the print, fit and feel of this skirt. It looks adorable and can be dressed up or down, really. I love wearing it!
2. Solid Cotton Tanks :: Specifically, the ones from LOFT! They're so soft and comfortable. I'll wear these by themselves or under a cardigan! They do sales all the time on them, so I wouldn't ever buy them full price :) I have one in almost every color.
3. Norts :: Is there any explanation needed? They almost have their own drawer now. Comfy. Easy to throw on. Fun colors. Can be monogrammed. End of story.
4. Cardigans :: Cardigans are my #1 fall staple. They go with everything! Dresses, a blouse and skirt, a tank and pants...etc. Another article of clothing I aim to have one of every color in. I love the cardigans at Target, J. Crew, and Old Navy.
5. Denim :: This goes for shorts, jeans, jackets, tops...anything denim - just not all together at the same time ;) 90's anyone? I love jeans...especially finding ones that fit like a glove. I also love to pair a jean jacket with my outfits! Especially dresses or a nice top and chino pants.
What are the five most worn items in your closet? Do we share any favorites? Off to my second day of classes! Happy Tuesday!

Friday's Fancies: Gingham Gorg!

Gingham has really grown on me. At first I didn't like it, but now I want one of everything gingham!   This week's Friday's Fancies with {long distance loving} has me going gaga for gingham!   Here is my girly gingham outfit of choice:

  I love the gingham choices that J. Crew has! (And their chinos that go with everything.) This pink button down is too cute!  The mini mongram and flower pearl studs from Baublebar and Fossil wrap watch and clutch are the perfect accessories - making a statement, but in a neutral way. Of course, Jack Rogers Hamptons Navajo sandals complete any summer outfit! Incorporate some gingham into your outfit today!
--------------------------------------   I've been so busy the last couple of days moving into my new apartment! It is going to take some getting used to...very different than my townhouse from the past two years! I'll be posting pictures at some point :) Until then...send some "small closet organization" magic my way!   Have a wonderful weekend!

Friday's Fancies: Wedding Guest

First off: life lately. I feel like this week has been stressful, for some reason. The weather has been much cooler with rain showers and I just feel like I've been dragging my feet. On Thursday we had our walking field trip (total of 4 miles) and the kids complained the whole time. It was both physically and mentally painful.

I also have had terrible luck seeing Steven pitch recently. I haven't seen him throw since June. It's sad for me to not be able to make it to the games he throws in...such as today's! I would be there if I could in a heartbeat.Lastly, this weather has been giving me a headache every morning! There is almost nothing worse than waking up with a headache. I'm ready for some sunshine.
Okay, enough with the blabbing :)Time to return to Friday's Fancies!

Friday's Fancies: Wedding Guest by slryan3

 I just love this dress from ModCloth! They have adorable pieces for reasonable prices!I really want to get into some of these statement necklaces. I found an adorable one shopping last weekend but decided against it! I love BaubleBar's pieces and (again) their prices! This White Bead Bib necklace would be a great starter to my collection! Plus - if you create an account, you get $10 off your first order! And they have free shipping. I'm sold. FYI - that Essie polish is: delicacy :)

What are you wearing to this summer's wedding festivities?

4th recap & mini vacation

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I sure did!

After waking up and running some errands, my family and I went downtown for our town's annual 4th of July parade.  This year, mom's school had a part in the parade so she and Sadie were decked in HAE purple & a bit of red, white and blue!

Gap was having a huge sale this week, and for once I was actually successful! Usually it's hit or miss at Gap. Not sure why, but sometimes their stuff fits funny!This time, I found too many things that I wanted and had to vote some things out!I did keep an outfit perfect for the 4th!

The red and white striped top ended up only being $3 and the navy skirt ended up being around $15! Score!
After the parade I headed down to Asheboro, NC for Steven's game! Unfortunately, after leading for most of the game, the Mustangs lost 3-2. Although the score wasn't so great, the game was fun! There was a huge crowd - over 3,000 - and fireworks after the game!

When I was younger, I was terrified of fireworks. Thankfully I got over that fear! I love them now!
Today we're heading down for Martinsville's fireworks night and hopefully a win!Since I have Wed-Fri off from work (hallelujah) Mom & I are taking a mini vacation down to Charlotte!After the game we're staying in Winston-Salem for the night and then heading to IKEA and SouthPark for some weekend shopping :)So excited to get out of Blacksburg for a couple of days!
Happy Thursday!

DIY & Outfits for the 4th!

Today/this weekend in Blacksburg is supposed to be hot. I know I can't really complain when we don't have terrible wildfires to worry about, but still, the heat will affect what I do with my day.

I am planning to gather the supplies to make one or all of the following in preparation for next week which contains my 2nd favorite holiday! I think I'll sport red, white and blue all week...both in my clothing and my posts.Sorry 'bout it.

Source: klejeune.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: via Sarah on Pinterest

The shorts are made just like the shirt.Wish me luck! 
Today I'm also guest posting at Basically Bre! Go check out my outfit picks for the 4th from two amazing online boutiques!